When Pda Goes On Stage, It's Music Amid Furniture

Who are the members of pda? Kurt Spann, bass; Brad Hutcheson, drums; Steve Ruetschele, guitar, vocals

Like any true Seattle band, they met at Dick's Drive-In, but only two of the three members of pda are from the Northwest. Steve Ruetschele, like so many others one meets in the city these days, is from Ohio by way of New York City. Spann and Hutcheson are products of Washington State University , and together they create an ebullient pop noise that sounds slick but belies a deeper songwriting sensibility.

"I was in New York going to school for visual art, but music was always my closet passion," explains Ruetschele. "I loved playing the guitar, but never had any formal lessons. Same with singing - I just do the best I can trying to get across the feeling of the song and the meaning behind the words. And we have fun doing it."

Ruetschele likens the pda sound to "something like early R.E.M. or U2" - light on pop sound but heavy on lyrical content. He says the band shoots for a meaning higher than the music in their words, and admits to being inspired by a sense of destiny when he writes lyrics.

"But our stage shows are pretty fun," Ruetschele says. "We set the stage like a room - we use vintage lamps and strings of chili pepper lights for lighting. It's like combining music and theater, which we love to do. There's a ton of things bands can do to make a great stage show for the audience and give them their money's worth."

Ruetschele says the band is not, however, about extended musical solos or grandstanding, but rather trying to connect with whoever makes up the audience on any given night.

"We play music because we like music, but we play music for people because we like people," explains Ruetschele. "When I write songs I write hooky tunes and strong vocal parts because that's what gets the song out there. The songs can be stories or metaphors, but they're usually about relationships."

Listening to the lyrics, the emotion in pda songs is apparent, but the band is much less forthcoming on the meaning of its curious name.

"It started out meaning something, but now for a lot of reasons we've decided not to tell people," says Ruetschele. "We kind of look at it as the question that everyone else has the answer to. When people ask what the name means, we ask them what they think it means. The answers we get are great - we're thinking of making a T-shirt with all the replies."

Where to catch pda: Friday, Sept. 22, at Madison's Cafe, 3803 Delridge Way in West Seattle, 935-2412. pda's CD "Push" is available at Tower Records.

Are you in a local band? If you'd like to be considered for Sound Check, send a cover letter telling us about your band and your upcoming gigs, the name and daytime phone number of your manager or contact person, a tape and a photo to Sound Check, c/o Marisa Lencioni, Seattle Times, PO Box 70, Seattle WA 98111.